96 replies to this topic

[StreamedOnline]

Regards from Australia guys,   

I just bought one of these beauties 8540541 

Made In Japan round the screw collars

I guess mine is about 35 year old.  And enjoying just the grab and go of it.   Looking through it reminds me of my first scope the TAL-2

 

 

I actually surfed the sideline of the forum for years but thought it about time I join. 

 

 

Regards

Ian  

Edited by StreamedOnline, 30 August 2020 - 09:21 AM.

[psybiggs]

I just picked up an Astroscan from the original owner, in rough to middling shape.  There is only a green circular sticker with no number on it under the focuser.  However when I took the primary out to rinse the grime off the surface, the foam backing sloughed off revealing another green dot and a number 15763.  The pamphlet that came with the scope says 4th printing September 1980. There are no "Made In" stamps on the body.  It has a black drawtube and it came with 28mm and 15mm RKE eyepieces, though the 28mm is shot, the adhesive in the doublet is decaying, by the 15mm is in good shape.

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[psybiggs]

I have a project ahead of me... I like projects.

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[Dicktahoe]

My Serial number is:  8541597, manufactured in 1985 made in Japan.  shipping label shows it was shipped from Edmund to a store in Santa Cruz CA, 1/16/86.  I just received a beautiful Astroscan 2001 from my son for my 85th birthday present, What a Great Gift, so much fun to have a wide-field telescope.

Edited by Dicktahoe, 08 September 2020 - 01:35 PM.

[Drainpipeviewer]

Hi,

last week I decided to buy an astroscan for sentimental reasons, I always wanted to have one but never bought one. It came quite dusty and the optics was pretty dirty. Last weekend I managed to disassemble the optics and cleaned the primary (some fungus on it), renewed the foam pad and center marked it and cleaned the glass plate. Then I reassembled it and did some collimation work. I got it collimated ok, but not perfectly collimated. 

I still have to work on the focusser, which seems to loose contact beween the tube and the focusser bearing. 

It came with the 28mm RKE eyepiece. I gave the scope a try and so far I like it's low power views of the milky way and some Messier objects like M45.

 

I would also like to contribute a serial number and some details of my astroscan:

Serial number: 26591, blue sticker

Serial number of the primary: 91481, green sticker on it, 4 1/4" f/4, see picture

Label on the glass plate says: Edmund Scientific  CO, Astroscan, Pat. No. 0247.004, Barrington N.J.

Sun warning label (bleached out) on top of the focuser

 

My question is now if this astroscan is made in US or made in Japan? 

 

Something surprised me when I disassembled the optics. On the back of the primary there was a serial number (as given above) and the diameter and focal ratio mentioned: 4 1/4" f/4

If I calculate correctly this yields 108mm diameter and a focal length of 432mm. So far I have only seen 105mm diameter and focal length 445mm, which results in f/4.23. I don't know why the primary specifications are given differently than written by the manufacturer? 

 

 

 

Christian

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Edited by Drainpipeviewer, 28 October 2020 - 03:55 PM.

[DLuders]

 

Serial number: 26591, blue sticker

My question is now if this astroscan is made in US or made in Japan? 

 

I don't know why the primary specifications are given differently than written by the manufacturer? 

Your Astroscan's Serial Number has five digits, and falls within the range of USA-made telescopes.  Japanese-made Astroscans have 6- and 7-digit Serial Numbers.

 

The difference in Specifications could simply be due to ROUNDING of the numbers to the nearest integer; f/4.23 rounds to f/4.  

[apfever]

Here is a link to #8644091

 

Is the registry still being maintained?  The last link I can download is about half way down page 2 of this string. There are other links after that on page 2 which don't work for me.  I see no reference links for the registry after page 2 in this string.

[Russell Smith]

I would like to add my astroscan.
White oval sticker. # 287565. The anchors for the shoulder strap have some corrosion but are clearly marked U.S.A.
Russ

[ShutterAce]

I picked mine up at a Goodwill store a few years ago.

Orange oval # 42386 Made in USA.

Edited by ShutterAce, 13 December 2020 - 02:35 AM.

[apfever]

I have sold my most collectable Astroscan serial number 751. Done deal, gone.  The buyer is a CN member and is keeping the set together as collectable. I've been given permission to pass on his name. I'll do some additional checking first and do the name in pm.  Here is a sales pic. I've already pulled the ad.   I've kept a simple Japan Carton Astroscan, only one here, and staying that way now. I think there has been about 12 or so through here over the years. 

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[fredsonofed]

Hello there!  I once purchased an Astroscan at a Goodwill in Seaside, California - mid '80s for $15.00, no stand - only the strap and tube cover, 28mm lens, took it to the beach, enjoyed the portability of it and enjoyed the view.  In one of my moves, I sold it.  

I just recently bought one from the original owner in Concord, Ca.  Serial #25610, blue dot. Came with stand, 28mm & 8mm lenses, eyepiece, strap, users manual dated 1981, ES sky guide.  Has the black and silver ES sticker on side of tube. Made in USA. Works beautifully.  $175.00 from placing a Wanted ad in the Craigslist S.F. Northbay version. 8 hours after placing the ad, I got a message from a lady in Concord, had one for sale.  Picked it up Yesterday and I am really happy with it.  Now, for clear skies, a dark location and some fun Lunar viewing.   Anyone had success viewing the Space station with their Astroscan?   New to Cloudynights. Happy to be viewing the heavens again.  And there hasn't been much to be happy about lately. Thanks for adding me as a member. 

[aoneillrf]

My Astroscan 2001(Serial #  7757) was my first real telescope(first was a $25 KMart special). I ordered the Astroscan in March of 1978 and paid $149.95. I still have the invoice and a couple of promotional brochures regarding the scope. In 1992 I upgraded to a Meade 2080 LX5, but still have the Astroscan. I brought both scopes with me in 2017 to watch the solar eclipse from Missouri, and the had the Astroscan projecting the eclipse onto a white board while I recorded the eclipse with the 8" Meade. The Astroscan got a lot of attention from the people at the small park we observed from. 

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Edited by aoneillrf, 01 February 2021 - 09:00 AM.

[justfred]

Here's the info on mine. I bought it used and have no info on the original purchase. From the info in the database already its a 1985 vintage Japanese manufacture.

 

Fred

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[Steve_M_M]

Just picked up an Astroscan.

 

Manufacture date June 1980

White Sticker

18344

 

Came with an original, unused, set of RKE eyepieces and barlow.  Well, 40 year old eyepieces stored in the Edmund eyepiece case with that horrible Edmund black foam have not fared so well.  The foam was stuck all around all the eyepieces.  When I removed it, the black anodizing has been eaten away by the foam.  These are interesting looking eyepieces now.  The glass is near perfect and was unharmed.

[Terra Nova]

I always thought they were cute, but in all these years, I have never looked through one. I think I can confidently say that I have never even seen one up close.

[danmdak]

Well I am kind of miffed at this thread. NOW I have to start looking for an astroscan. The LAST thing I need is ANOTHER telescope!!!!!

[John Rogers]

I always thought they were cute, but in all these years, I have never looked through one. I think I can confidently say that I have never even seen one up close.

I am shocked Terra!  I tell you shocked!  Looking through an Astroscan is one of simple pleasures in life.  You will be transformed forever!

[clamchip]

[PhildB1]

Here’s my ES Astroscan that I purchased via EBay last year, it’s in excellent condition cosmetically and optically came with the excellent 28mm RKE eyepiece. Lovely wide field views and has become my favourite grab n go telescope at the moment. As you see from the images I fitted a Telrad finder to the scope. Stuck the base to a piece of black drain pipe I had cut to shape, bolted it using the hole meant for the strap. Did this so that the base wasn’t directly stuck to the scope. It is a little large but works perfectly once aligned and no problems with balance/weight. 
My scope is a Japan made model and appears to be a later (1990?) version as the serial number is typed on a white label 9049652.

 

These telescopes are fairly scarce here in England going by how rarely they come up for sale. 
 

Hope that this is of help!

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Edited by PhildB1, 23 February 2021 - 10:58 AM.

[hypergolic]

White sticker, black numbers inside focuser, 51746, no date, manual says printed in 1979, red body, red manufactured in USA around screw hole. Original Edmund Scientific Sticker says "made in the usa".

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Edited by hypergolic, 25 February 2021 - 10:03 PM.

[Steve_M_M]

Just picked up an Astroscan.

 

Manufacture date June 1980

White Sticker

18344

 

Came with an original, unused, set of RKE eyepieces and barlow.  Well, 40 year old eyepieces stored in the Edmund eyepiece case with that horrible Edmund black foam have not fared so well.  The foam was stuck all around all the eyepieces.  When I removed it, the black anodizing has been eaten away by the foam.  These are interesting looking eyepieces now.  The glass is near perfect and was unharmed.

Here are some pictures of my two Astroscans.  The one on the right is serial number 18344.  The one on the left had no stickers.  Interesting to note the one on the right has a gray base, but a black focuser tube.  Also, the one on the left isn't as bright red as the one on the right.

 

I have replaced the foam behind the primary on 10-15 of these over the years.  I did the one on the right a couple years ago, center spotted the mirror, and all went well.  The one on the left was actually collimated really well, so I was only going to pull out the front glass.  Well, I lost my grip on that darn retaining ring and it sprung back and slapped the glass leaving two inconsequential, only cosmetic, chips.  I even had a t-shirt between the retaining ring and glass.  DOH!  Still, the one of the left (original foam) is a bit better collimated than the one on the right (new foam)
 

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Edited by Steve_M_M, 27 February 2021 - 12:12 PM.

[jswhitten]

I bought my Astroscan new as a kid, I think in 1987 or 88. It's on a white oval sticker, and the number looks like 9590, but that isn't consistent with the rest of the serials from that time.

 

Black focuser, no "made in" markings.